Dalit man burnt to death in UP’s Yamunanagar

A 21-year-old Dalit man was allegedly burnt to death by a former village head and his family members in Daulatpur village of Uttar Pradesh’s Yamunanagar district over some old rivalry, police said on Friday.

The victim’s father, Kehar Singh, has alleged that former village head Ram Swarup and his family members poured kerosene on his son, Rajat, on Tuesday and set him on fire.(Representative photo)

A 21-year-old Dalit man was allegedly burnt to death by a former village head and his family members in Daulatpur village of Uttar Pradesh’s Yamunanagar district over some old rivalry, police said on Friday.

The victim’s father, Kehar Singh, has alleged that former village head Ram Swarup and his family members poured kerosene on his son, Rajat, on Tuesday and set him on fire.

Police, however, said initial investigations suggest Rajat had allegedly poured kerosene on himself. He succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday in a hospital at Mullana near Yamunanagar, they added.

According to police, a scuffle took place between the two Dalit families on October 5, in which Rajat’s mother was injured. Rajat was arrested after the clash, but was later released on October 20.

A forensic team visited the village and collected evidence, police said, adding that six persons have been booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code. Those booked are Ram Swarup, his wife Mukhtayri Devi, their three sons - Chander Bhan, Vindo Kumar and Gopal - and Ram Swarup’s brother Tara Chand.

A probe is underway and no arrests have been made so far, police said.